US3010725A - Sound translating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 R. F. FLEMING ETAL SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1959 INVENTORS RONALD F. FLEMING 8| GEORGE KERSHENBAUM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,010,725 SOUND TRANSLATING APPARATUS Ronald F. Fleming, Farmingtou, and George Kershenbaum, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to The Gray Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,467 5 Claims." (Cl. 274-39) This invention relates to sound translating apparatus zfmd particularly to an impulse circuit arrangement there- In conventional sound translating equipment employing electromagnetic start-stop controls, a winding remains energized throughout the period that the control switch assumes either its start or stop position. Such conventional arrangements are entirely acceptable where the equipment is operated on commercial power sources or other sources where it is not necessary to conserve current. In connection with portable equipment however, operated from a battery source, it is important to avoid unnecessary current consumption by the start-stop controls as well as by any of the other circuits of the equipment, since the useful life of the battery constitutes a definite time limitation on the availability of the equipment for recording or reproducing.

In accordance. with the present invention, when the start-stop switch is actuated from either of its positions to the other, there will be but a single pulse sutficient to shift'the start-stop means from one of its positions to the other whereupon no further current will be consumed until the start-stop switch is actuated to produce the other condition. It is also contemplated that other circuits of the equipment be controlled by the switch, such as any motor, amplifier and/or signalling circuits. 'It is among the objects of the present invention to provide in combination with sound translating apparatus having a' frame, a sound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting one of the members for movement relative to the other, driving means for relatively moving the members, and a source of current; a pair of self-deenergizing electromagnets having a bistable armature system, and switching means in circuit with the current source and electromagnets for alternatively energizing the electromagnets. The switching means controls the start-stop means and/or one or more load circuits which might include any or all of a motor circuit, an amplifier circuit and a signalling circuit. The switching means preferably comprises a single pole double throw switch having a common contact connected to the current source and contacts in circuit with the windings of the electromagnets respectively, alternatively engaged with the common contact. A load circuit may be connected in parallel with one or all of the electromagnets.

A start-stop device for the drive means of sound translating apparatus preferably comprises an armature movable between two positions for activating and deactivating the drive means respectively, a pair of electromagnets alternatively shifting the armature fiom one of the positions to the other, each electromagnet having a winding connected to opposite poles of a single pole double throw switch, the switch having a common pole connected to a source of current, and contact means actuated by the armature to interrupt the circuit of the windings in response to a shifting movement imparted to the armature by the windings respectively.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow a description of the accompanying drawing in the form of a schematic and fragmentary diagram of the circuit and certain components.

The impulse start-stop circuit arrangement depicted in the drawing constitutes the essence of the present 3,010,725 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 invention, the other portions of the drawing serving merely to illustrate one of many ways in which the invention may be applied.

There is depicted in the drawing a frame 12 with respect to which a carriage 14 is movably mounted, the upper portion of the carriage providing a fluted spindle member 16 on which a disc record 18 having a serrated central opening is impaled. A sound translating member 20 having a stylus 22 is supported from the frame 12 by means of a beam 24 for engagement with the surface of the record disc 18. A driving roller 26 is carried by a driving shaft 28 for engagement with the lower surface of the record disc 18. A pressure roller 30 is rotatably supported by a lever 32 for selectively engaging the upper surface of the record disc 18 to render the driving roller 26 effective to rotate the disc. In the position shown, the pressure roller 30 is elevated above the record disc under which conditions the driving roller 26 is ineffective to impart movement to the disc.

The lever 32 has one end associated with an over center spring 34 which will maintain the lever and its pres sure roller 30 in either of their two positions. -An intermediate portion of the lever receives a pivot 36 about which the system can be moved under the influence of an arm 38 received in the yoke 46 formed at the left end, as viewed in the drawing, of the lever 32.

Translation of the carriage 14 with respect to the frame 12 may be effected by means of a screw 42 cooperating with the carriage and with a suitable half-nut or substitute therefor as is already well known in the art.

The arm 38 is carried by an armature system 44, movable about a pivot 45, having alternative positions imparted by a pair of electromagnets 46 and 48. The electromagnet 48 has a winding 62, one end of which is connected by means of a lead 64 to the upper contact 54 of a single pole double throw switch 56. The other end of the winding 62 terminates in a contact 58 which is eng-ageable with a contact 60 carried by the armature system 44 when the system assumes its lower position as opposed to that depicted in the drawing.

Similarly, the electromagnet 46 has a winding 50 whose one end is connected by means of a lead 52 to the lower contact 66 of the switch 56. The other end of the winding 50 terminates in a contact 68 shown in the drawing as engaging a contact 70 carried by the armature system 44. The contacts 60 and 70 carried by the armature system are grounded through a lead 72. The common contact 74 of the switch 56 has a terminal connected by means of a lead 76 to one terminal of a battery 78 whose other terminal is connected to ground through a lead 80.

When the switch 56 assumes its stop position as shown, it may complete a circuit through the lead 64 and a conductor 81 to a load 82 whose opposite terminal is connected to ground. The load 82 may assume the form of a resistor which may in fact be an indicating or signalling lamp. Similarly, when the switch 56 is shifted to its start position, it may complete one or more circuits through its lead 52 to energize loads such as a motor 84 and an amplifier 86 connected to a lead 88. The motor 84 is depicted as connected direct to ground while the amplifier is connected to ground through an inductance 90. Such circuits and controls are well suited for use with a battery powered sound translating machine where the conservation of current is important.

Upon reference to the drawing it will be evident that neither of the windings 50 or 62 is in circuit with the battery 78. The switch 56 is depicted as assuming its stop position. When it is desired to start the sound translating operation, the common contact 74 will be shifted from the upper contact 54 to the lower contact 66 whereupon a circuit will be completed from the battery 78 through the lead 76, switch 56, lead 52, winding 50, contacts 68 and 70, lead 72, ground and lead 80 to the other pole of the battery. This energization of the winding 50 of electromagnet 46 attracts the armature system 44 whose movement about the pivot 45 effects opening of the contacts 68 and 70, whereupon the armature system will assume its other position, closing the contacts 58 and 60 preparatory to completing a circuit through the winding 62 of the electromagnet 48 when the common contact 74 is shifted to its stop position from the lower pole 66 to the uppere pole 54. Until the common contact 74 is shifted however, there will be no current flow through either of the windings 50 or 62. Where the loads 84 and 86 are employed, their energization will continue so long as the switch 56 provides a start condition.

With the mechanism illustrated, when the armature 44 is shifted from its stop position to its start position, the arm 38 will cause the lever 32 to rotate clockwise about its pivot 36 to bring the pressure roller 30 in contact with the upper surface of the record disc 18 and establish an effective drive therefor. The over center spring 34 will maintain the pressure roller 30 in its lowered position until anew current pulse energizes the winding 62 to restore the armature system to the position shown in the drawing, whereupon counterclockwise movement of the lever 32 will occur about its pivot 36 to elevate the pressure roller once again to its position depicted in the drawing.

Where the load 82 is present, it will remain engaged so long as the switch 56 assumes a stop position. The load 82 will consume a very low current in such a case, such as would be required to provide a suitable signal or indication. Where one or more of the loads 84, 86 and 99 are present, they will draw current only during operation of the equipment at which times their function will be necessary.

The foregoing description will suggest modifications to thosejskilled in the art contemplated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. In combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, a sound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting one of said members for movement relative to the other, driving means for relatively moving said members, start-stop means for said driving means, means connecting said driving means to one of said members and to said startstop means, and a source of current for said start-stop means; a pair of self deenergizing electromaguets having a bistable armature system operatively connected with said start-stop means and alternatively imparting start and stop positions thereto, and switching means actuated by movement of said armature system in circuit with said current source and elec-tromagnets for alternatively energizing said electromagnets.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a single pole double throw switch having a common contact connected to said current source and contacts in circuit with the windings of said electromagnets respectively alternatively engaged with said common contact.

3. A start-stop device for the drive means of sound translating apparatus comprising an armature system mechanically coupled with said drive means and movable between two positions for activatingand deactivating said drive means respectively,a pair of electromagnets alternatively shifting said armature system from one of said positions to the other, each electromagnet having a winding connected to one of opposite poles of a single pole double throw switch,-said switch having a common contact connected to a source of current for energizing said windings sequentially, and contact means actuated by said armature system and in circuit with said windings to deenergize said windings in response to each shifting movement imparted to said armature system by-energization of said windingsrespectively.

4. In combination with sound translating apparatus having a frame, a sound translating member, a record engaging member, a carriage supporting one of said members for movement relative to the other, driving means for relatively moving said members, means conmeeting said driving means to one of said members and to said start-stop means,-and a source of current; a pair of self deenergizing electromagnets having a bistable armature system, switching means actuated by movement of said armature system in circuit with said current source and electromagnets for alternatively energizing said electromagnets, anda load circuit connected in parallel with one of said electromagnets. I

5 The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein a load circuit is connected in paralle-l'with each of said electromagnets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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